Ethics Scenario #12: Shaping Young Minds Day Care Center

12. Alisha is the CEO of a day care center. One of her employees, Malory, is having personal problems at home, taking care of a chronically sick parent who is keeping her up at night. She suspects that Malory is using amphetamines to stay awake during working hours. Malory has been a valued employee for almost ten years, and has never had any discipline problems. Before now, there has only been circumstantial evidence that Malory has a drug problem. The day care center has a strict policy that staff members may not use illegal drugs, and those that do are subject to being summarily fired. Today, Alisha accidentally notices that Malory fails to return the meds intended for one of the children with ADHD, and slips it into her pocket, and heads for the bathroom. Alisha follows her into the bathroom, and confronts Malory, asking her to empty her pocket. Malory at first refuses, then starts crying, and admits she has taken the Ritalin tablets intended for one of the clients. She begs for her job, explaining that she has been doing this only since her mother has kept her awake at all hours, and she needs the job to pay for her mother’s care during the day. She threatens suicide if she is fired. Alisha agrees to look the other way, provided Malory stops stealing the Ritalin.

a. Is Alisha acting unethically by not firing Malory?

b. What other options might be available to Alisha rather than either firing Malory or looking the other way?